Midsummer night dream bridge theatre

I'm in the 'loved this' camp - though it was a long time to be standing and Pyramus and Thisbe remains deeply tedious and the last thing you're in the mood for by that stage of the play. The shift of lines to Oberon worked really well, and I really liked how it played up the chilling misogyny aruond the two forced marriages and therefore the connection between the two women. Overall it looked and felt magical - great use of the auditorium. I'm sure there are all sorts of sniffy objections that young, hip theatre-makers could make, but everyone I saw looked like they were having a great night, which is mainly what most of us go to the theatre hoping for.

Have taken advantage of a Today Ticks offer to see it again seated from one of the cheap seats - will be interesting to see how it feels from that perspective.

The whole experience of going to the Bridge is excellent, I think. So nice to go to the theatre and not be forced to drink over-priced vinegar.

Well this was all a bit mad and bonkers and I think (hard to tell with pre teen who no longer communicates much) a success with my niece.

Managed to stand somewhere that meant go moved quite a lot but the stewards seemed more restrained than at JC, they firmly gestured you to move but didn't just shove you and bellow move which frankly was a nice change. I thought Bottom was brilliant, first time I've seen it done and not been irritated by the character. Interesting Oberon, I liked the swap and what that threw up, didn't feel Titania made any real impact at all. Liked the female half of the lovers. I thought I was going to be really irritated by Puck but he grew on me. Staging generally worked well and since there were often people twirling around in the air or beds on raised stage pieces it was quite easy to see.

I think my niece was a bit nervous to start with, all that drumming and ominous music, I did my best to manoeuvre her to front where possible as otherwise she just disappeared behind all the adults, one lovely man who seemed determined to embrace his partner at all times turned round saw she was much smaller than him and couldn't see and promptly turned back round. Classy. She loved the end, I suspect the highlight was finally managing to make contact with a moon. Successful first Shakespeare seen.

I mentioned earlier in the thread - I got rush tickets around 11am on the first preview. They only offered standing. I imagine you have to be a bit earlier now.

Yes, I felt some of the staff were fairly aggressive at times when I saw it too. There really wasn't any need for it - they disturbed the flow of the end of several scenes by not wanting to wait even one second.

I agree. Maybe if we'd seen the TV series she is famous for we'd have liked her more because of all that background she would have brought with her. But I'm afraid it's a fact of theatrical life that a big TV star can get over-cast, cast in parts they are not suitable for or even cast in parts they can't play at all (in the case of Martin Freeman in Richard-III all of the above).  

Well this was fun wasn’t it! I did think it was a shame that the ad libs not in the play got the biggest laughs but have to admire the audacity of the production for just going for it at all points! Thought the lovers were very good with movement....there was a LOT of climbing over bedrails and walking across mattresses etc and they made it look very natural. Loved the gender swap. Actually liked how Gwendoline Christie played the part (I know some people didn’t) and definitely a splendid Bottom (funny but quite endearing rather than annoying)!
The Bridge itself could do with a good boot up the backside....I know the loos are lovely but that lame cup of tea with the pathetic tea bag and half filled pot of tea? I asked for an Americano coffee and then had to ask for milk...bored looking girl looked surprised before getting me some. I asked the box office if they would be doing a poster for Lion Witch and Wardrobe and she said she didn’t think so but had been asked by quite a lot of people. I replied that perhaps it would be a good idea to feed back to the management and could we have fliers while they were at it ....to which she said they were too hard to organise as the productions change.....I gave up at that point....how do other theatres manage?!!!!

When I saw this I too was expecting Hippolyta to be 'on display' from when the House opened, but it seems to have been changed and now she only comes on at the start of the play proper. I guess this is something which changed in previews - maybe they felt it was too much for her to be out there for that long?

I'd just like to add a bit of praise for the theatre - off to see the matinee this afternoon, but I damaged my back a couple of days ago and can't manage the pit where I was booked. Phoned up yesterday to ask if I could switch and they moved me into a more expensive front row seat in gallery 2 by the aisle for free.

For what it's worth - I enjoyed the play too, though didn't feel I missed anything much this time being seated.

Just back from this, which I adored. The last ten minutes of the first half, when Oberon and Bottom are cavorting is blissful. Things I am normally sceptical about (modern interpolations, line reassignments, the use of pop music and dance-alongs) worked perfectly and didn't bother me in the slightest. My 12 and 14 year olds loved it too, though I must admit I didn't expect to have to explain to them what fisting was for some years, if ever. I can't wait for Hytner to do another one. Which major ones hasn't he done? I can't recall an As You Like It or Richard III. Or Ant and Cleo. I could imagine Romeo and Juliet working well in a promenade performance too.

Has anyone tried for dayseats for this one yet?

I would like to see the Bridge Dream again. I hope we get inside it with the cameras.